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Non-Sex Travel: New York Has Herpes

June 10, 2008 at 3:30 PM | by Hunter Walker | 3 Comments

The New York City Department of Health released a survey yesterday showing that one out of every four New Yorkers has genital herpes. We don't know if 26 percent is officially considered an epidemic, but it's obviously a serious situation. Maybe hipsters are responsible? The entire North section of Brooklyn has basically become a health hazard.

The data are especially scary since most people infected with herpes have no symptoms--and because genital herpes doubles the risks of spreading HIV. In other words, the city might be in even worse shape soon.

The DOH is encouraging people who are getting laid in New York to wear condoms and to avail themselved of the free testing services at one of New York's many STD clinics. Between this and the bedbugs in the parks, we'll probably just skip hanging out in NYC till October.

Related Stories:
· Sex coverage [Jaunted]
· New York Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Psywarrior.com]

3 Comments

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Return to » Non-Sex Travel: New York Has Herpes

  1. DanielR

    Jaunted Member

    Blech.

    SO.  GROSS.  ILL.  Keep your nasty, spotted, hipster private parts to yourself and stop acting like morons.  Blech.  
    June 10, 2008 at 3:38 PM
    #Permalink

  1. Hugo

    Jaunted Member

    This story is way over sensationalized..

    While NYC has an infection rate of 26%, the overall statistic for the whole country is around 19%, so it's not much different than the rest of the country. Instead of one of four in NYC, it's one of five overall.

    The truth about herpes is that 90% of those infected don't even know that they have it so it can't be a very severe condition in the vast majority of those who have it.

    The stigmatized visualization of people with herpes being a walking bio-hazard zone is totally misleading. Most people, obviously, don't have sores and may only be contagious a few days out of the year and their virus isn't something floating around in the air, it requires intimate contact. No you're not going to get it from a toilet seat.

    I hate it that it's tied to HIV like this since the actual risk of getting HIV is very small unless you are in the very highest risk demographics.

    DanielR, if you've had sex with more than four people in your life so far, you've likely been exposed to genital herpes. Don't be critical of others if you've not had a reliable blood test for it. Oh, and don't say that you've had the standard STD panel and you're clear, because testing for herpes isn't part of that testing unless you specifically ask for it.

    A few other thoughts..

    1.Condoms? Yes, they reduce the risk, about 50% so they help, but aren't a guarantee.

    2.Cold sores are herpes, too, and many cases of genital herpes are actually the type 1 herpes simplex virus instead of type 2. Those cases aren't covered by this testing being reported so those additional cases need to be added to the 26% statistic.

    3. There's much much more to know about herpes. There are a few good websites, if you can get past the sites that are peddling alternative treatment/cure scams. Take a look at herpeshomepagedotcom for one.

    June 10, 2008 at 10:25 PM
    #Permalink

  1. DragonflyDreaming

    Jaunted Member

    Honestly...

    Boston has the bug too...just because NYC has so many more people makes it a little more, em, daunting in numbers. Everyone should have protected sex, seriously, in this day and age anyone dipping their wick should bring rain gear.

    Be smart.
    Herpes today.
    Something much, much worse tomorrow.

    June 11, 2008 at 4:29 PM
    #Permalink

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